Lucinda Russell sets new best with double

TRAINER Lucinda Russell reached a new personal best of 58 wins when recording a 63-1 double with Lone Foot Laddie and Urban Kode on the second day of the Perth Festival, writes Gordon Brown.

Ruby Walsh is all smiles with Quevega after their Punchestown win. Picture: PA

Lone Foot Laddie took the opening novices’ hurdle for Graham Watters, while Urban Kode went in 30 minutes later in the two-mile handicap hurdle under Craig Nichol.

Russell said: “It’s good to beat last year’s total and I’ve sort of got Len Lungo’s Scottish record of 63 in mind. It’s in my sights but we’ll probably fall short this season so it just shows what an achievement it was in 2002/03.”

Fiddlers Reel, sent off 3-1 favourite, won the novices’ handicap chase for Borders permit-holder Jane Clark, the daughter of former Kelso chairman David Thomson.

At Punchestown Quevega (6-4), ridden by Ruby Walsh, won the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle for the fourth successive year with another imperious performance.